DAILY NEWS  

Brussels, 08 July 2026

 

Commission adopts its July infringement procedures

To help citizens and businesses benefit fully from the European Union's legislation, the European Commission maintains a constant dialogue with Member States to ensure compliance with EU law. It can initiate infringement procedures against Member States in the event of non-compliance. The decisions taken today, as part of this infringement package, include 63 letters of formal notice and 45 reasoned opinions.

The Commission also decided to refer 12 cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Finally, the Commission decided to close 48 cases in which the Member States concerned, in cooperation with the Commission, have brought an infringement to an end and ensured compliance with EU law.

The decisions and the corresponding press releases are available online. More information on the EU infringement procedure can be found in the following questions and answers.

 The European Commission calls on 12 Member States to meet waste recycling targets

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Germany (INFR(2026)2137), Greece (INFR(2026)2138), and Cyprus (INFR(2026)2139), and to send a reasoned opinion to Bulgaria (INFR(2024)2128), Czechia (INFR(2024)2137), Greece (INFR(2024)2132), Spain(INFR(2024)2147), Croatia (INFR(2024)2133), Cyprus (INFR(2024)2131), Hungary (INFR(2024)2134), Malta (INFR(2024)2135), Poland (INFR(2024)2126), Portugal (INFR(2024)2145) and Romania (INFR(2024)2136) for failing to meet several waste recycling targets, based on the latest available data reported by Member States. The decision is part of the Commission's enforcement efforts to remove barriers in the single market in 11 focus areas, as announced in the Communication “A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU Rulebook”. The Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC on waste as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851) sets legally binding targets for preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste. Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Romania have failed to meet the 50% target of preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste (such as paper, metal, plastic and glass) which was to be reached by 2020. In parallel, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Directive 94/62/EC as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/852) applies to all packaging distributed within the European market and any resulting packaging waste. By 31 December 2008, it required that between 55% and 80% of all packaging waste must be recycled. The established recycling goals for various materials include 60% for glass, 60% for paper and cardboard, 50% for metals, 22.5% for plastics, and 15% for wood. Seven Member States have failed to meet several targets for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Croatia missed the targets for total packaging, glass and metals; Cyprus and Portugal missed the target for glass; Greece, Romania and Hungary missed the targets for total packaging and glass; and Malta missed the targets for total packaging, paper and cardboard and metals. Achieving these targets is essential to foster the single market for secondary raw material and enhance circularity. This will contribute to reducing the EU's dependence on third countries and fostering its competitiveness. Increased reuse and recycling also minimise the quantities of waste generated and reduce landfilling, further supporting resource efficiency, circularity and strategic autonomy within the EU. Member States need to boost their implementation efforts to meet the abovementioned obligations, also in view of the increased targets which apply as of 2025, 2030 and 2035 respectively. Based on new data pointing to failure to reach waste targets, the Commission decided to initiate infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Germany, Greece and Cyprus which now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of satisfactory responses, the Commission may decide to issue reasoned opinions. In addition, the Commission already issued letters of formal notice to Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Romania in July 2024. As the failure to reach the concerned targets persists, the Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion to those countries, which now has two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

 

Commission opens infringement procedures against Member States over restrictions on energy-related installation and construction services

The European Commission decided to launch infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Bulgaria (INFR(2026)2104), Czechia (INFR(2026)2106), Spain (INFR(2026)2107), Croatia (INFR(2026)2108), Cyprus (INFR(2026)2105), Latvia (INFR(2026)2111), Lithuania (INFR(2026)2110), Hungary (INFR(2026)2109), Poland (INFR(2026)2112), Romania (INFR(2026)2113), and Slovakia (INFR(2026)2114) for imposing restrictive mandatory authorisation or certification schemes for energy installation and construction services. An infringement procedure against France (INFR(2024)2249) on similar grounds is already ongoing.  The cases tackle obstacles to the installation of renewable energy equipment, which are created by authorisation and similar requirements. These requirements make it difficult for installers of renewable energy equipment and providers of energy efficiency installations to work across the EU. Less restrictive measures — such as ex-post controls — can be used to ensure the quality of such installation services, rather than restricting market access by imposing mandatory certification schemes or registration requirements. Furthermore, the Commission has identified cases in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia and Spain, where Member States impose even broader attestation and registration requirements for construction. Such national provisions mandating authorisation or certification, and their associated obligations, result in market fragmentation, make access to these activities more difficult, and restrict choice for consumers and availability of these services. The decisions are part of the Commission's enforcement efforts to remove barriers in the single market in 11 focus areas, as announced in the Communication ‘A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU Rulebook'. This action aligns with the ‘One Europe, one market' approach as announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and aims to improve the integration of the Single Market in construction and installation services related to the green transition. The Commission considers that these measures infringe the Services Directive (Directive 2006/123/EC) by imposing unjustified requirements in the context of establishment and cross-border service provision. In addition, on a subsidiary basis, they breach the principle of proportionality guaranteed by Articles 49 and 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). In the absence of a satisfactory reply, the Commission may decide to send reasoned opinions.

 

Commission calls on Member States to notify transposition of the Directive on reducing reporting requirements for economic operators  

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus (INFR(2026)2149), Malta (INFR(2026)2151) and Finland (INFR(2026)2150), and to send reasoned opinion to Croatia (INFR(2026)0078), Italy (INFR(2026)0085), Austria (INFR(2026)0007), Portugal (INFR(2026)0129) and Romania (INFR(2026)0134) for not notifying the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/2839 into their legislation. Directive (EU) 2024/2839 reduces reporting requirements for Member States and economic operators in several fields. For economic operators, the reporting requirements concern noise emissions by equipment for use outdoors. The Directive specifies with which reporting obligations economic operators no longer need to comply. Member States which did not notify any measures received a letter of formal notice on 29 January 2026 (January infringements package), whereas Member States that notified measures, which were, however, after assessment considered to be insufficient received a letter of formal notice today. The Member States in question now have two months to address the concerns raised by the Commission. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion to the Member States which have received a letter of formal notice (Cyprus, Malta and Finland) and refer the Member States which received a reasoned opinion (Austria, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Romania) to the Court of Justice of the European Union with requests for financial sanctions.

 

Commission calls on Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia to correctly transpose the provisions of the Directive on combating money laundering

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus (INFR(2026)2086), Lithuania (INFR(2026)2096), Poland (INFR(2026)2097) and Slovenia (INFR(2026)2098) for failing to correctly transpose some of the provisions of the Directive on combating money laundering (Directive (EU) 2018/1673), including regarding penalties and the money laundering offences. The Directive defines criminal offences and sanctions for money laundering, facilitates police and judicial cooperation between EU Member States and prevents criminals from taking advantage of diverging legal systems across the EU. The Directive introduced several important novelties. It allows the prosecution of money laundering even without a prior conviction for the underlying criminal offence that generated the money and without proving all details of that offence (stand-alone money laundering). It also makes clear that persons can be prosecuted for laundering proceeds generated from their own criminal activities (self-laundering). The Directive also foresees circumstances that allow for a harsher punishment for instance when a person or entity with a specific duty commits money laundering (e.g. banks, notaries etc.). In addition, the Directive clarifies which Member State is competent in cross-border cases. In view of the incorrect transposition of the Directive including penalties and aggravating circumstances that allow for a harsher punishment, the Commission is sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia. These Member States   now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

 

Commission calls on Belgium, Bulgaria and Cyprus to finalise the implementation of the information exchange rules on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation

Today, the European Commission has decided to send reasoned opinions to Belgium (INFR(2026)0015), Bulgaria (INFR(2026)0021) and Cyprus (INFR(2024)0030) for failing to fully transpose Directive (EU) 2025/872, which amends the Directive on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (Directive 2011/16/EU). The Directive requires Member States to standardise the collection of the top-up tax information return and to automatically exchange the information in that return. The top-up tax information return is part of the filing obligations laid down in Directive (EU) 2022/2523 (Pillar 2 Directive) on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational enterprise groups and large-scale domestic groups in the Union. Belgium, Bulgaria and Cyprus have so far not adopted or notified all national transposition measures, while tax authorities across the EU should be able to start exchange information on multinational companies in scope of the Pillar 2 Directive as from June 2026. In January 2026, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to the Member States for failing to fully implement the rules of the Directive. Therefore, the Commission has decided to issue reasoned opinions to Belgium, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union with requests for financial sanctions.

 

Commission calls on 10 Member States to transpose the amended Directive on Intelligent Transport Systems

Today, the European Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to Belgium (INFR(2026)0010), Czechia (INFR(2026)0033), Ireland (INFR(2026)0080), Greece (INFR(2026)0054), Croatia (INFR(2026)0074), Cyprus (INFR(2026)0025), Luxembourg (INFR(2026)0090), Malta (INFR(2026)0102), Poland (INFR(2026)0116) and Slovenia (INFR(2026)0142) for failing to fully transpose into national law, by 21 December 2025, Directive (EU) 2023/2661, amending Directive 2010/40/EU on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) play an important role in achieving efficient and safe, sustainable and automated, interconnected and resilient transport system in the EU. The amended Directive aims to respond to the emergence of new road mobility options, mobility apps, and connected and automated mobility. The amended Directive also aims to ensure that ITS applications enable the seamless integration of road transport with other modes of transport, for example with rail, to improve their efficiency and accessibility. In January 2026, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to 20 Member States for not having complied with their transposition obligations. As half of those Member States have notified by now their respective transposition measures, the Commission is sending a reasoned opinion only to Belgium, Czechia, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, and Slovenia which now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures to comply with their obligations. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union with requests to impose financial penalties.

 

Commission calls on Cyprus and Luxembourg to transpose the Directive on adequate minimum wages into national law

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus (INFR(2026)2132) and Luxembourg (INFR(2026)2133) for failing to notify measures transposing the Directive on adequate minimum wages (Directive (EU) 2022/2041) into national law. Adequate minimum wages strengthen social fairness and boost productivity and competitiveness. The EU Directive promotes collective bargaining on wage-setting and enhances the effective access of workers to rights to minimum wage protection. Member States had until 15 November 2024 to transpose the Directive into their national law. To date, Cyprus and Luxembourg have not notified any national transposition measures to the Commission. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus and Luxembourg, which now have two months to respond and notify their transposition measures to the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue reasoned opinions.

Commission calls on Greece, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia to fully incorporate EU rules on the protection of workers from asbestos into national law

Today, the European Commission decided to send reasoned opinions to Greece (INFR(2026)055), Spain (INFR(2026)0062), Cyprus (INFR(2026)0026), the Netherlands (INFR(2026)0110), Poland (INFR(2026)0117) and Slovakia (INFR(2026)0148) for failing to notify measures fully transposing into national law new EU rules on protecting workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. Asbestos is a dangerous cancer-causing substance, with around 75% of workplace cancers in the EU linked to it. Directive (EU) 2023/2668 lays down rules to improve workers' protection against this dangerous substance. Member States were required to transpose most of the provisions of the Directive into national law by 21 December 2025, and the remaining provisions by 21 December 2029. Among the first set of provisions is a reduction in the exposure limit of asbestos at work to a tenth of the previous value (from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre), based on the latest scientific and technological developments. On 30 January 2026, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to ten Member States for failing to notify measures incorporating the new EU rules into national law in time. Since then, four Member States have notified such measures. Today, the Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion to the six remaining Member States, which now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union with requests for financial sanctions.

 

Commission calls on Cyprus to respect the OLAF Regulation

The European Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Cyprus (INFR(2026)2054) for failing to comply with its obligation under Union law established by Article 7(3a) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 (the ‘OLAF Regulation'). This is the second infringement procedure that the Commission has opened against a Member State on this topic, following the one opened with Ireland on 4 June 2026. The OLAF Regulation governs the work of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to protect the financial interests of the European Union. In 2020, the OLAF Regulation was amended and introduced specific provisions to clarify the duty of Member States to assist OLAF and provide, upon request, bank account information and records of bank transactions. According to the Cypriot law, OLAF will not be provided with such information in the context of administrative investigations where no reasonable suspicion of a criminal offence exists. Hence, Cyprus law conflicts with Article 7(3a) of the OLAF Regulation, which significantly hampers OLAF investigation results. The Commission is therefore sending a letter of formal notice to Cyprus, which now has two months to submit its observations and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion, as provided for in Article 258 TFEU.

 

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Kristyna Eeckels – Tel.: +32 2 295 10 65)

 

Commission issues €11 billion in its 7th syndicated transaction of 2026

The European Commission is empowered by the EU Treaties to borrow from the international capital markets on behalf of the European Union to finance selected EU policy programmes. The Commission has raised €11 billion of EU-Bonds in its 7th syndicated transaction for 2026.

The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €6 billion new 5-year EU-Bond maturing on 13 October 2031, and a €5 billion tap of the 20-year EU-Bond maturing on 12 October 2046.

Building on the pricing of recent syndications against the EU Bond curve, both maturities were priced against reference points in the EU Bond curve. This approach reflects the strong liquidity of the EU Bond curve, which can be used as a reliable reference point for the pricing of syndicated issuances when deemed desirable. The proceeds of the transaction will be used to finance EU policy programmes, most notably in the context of NextGenerationEU and support to Ukraine.

The transaction is part of the Commission's €80 billion funding target for the second half of 2026. A full overview of all EU transactions executed to date is available online.

For more information on this, see the dedicated press release.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)

 

Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by Sanofi over possible anticompetitive conduct regarding the promotion of a flu vaccine for vulnerable patients

The European Commission invites comments on commitments offered by Sanofi to address competition concerns regarding a communication campaign that has possibly disparaged the only rival flu vaccine recommended for vulnerable patients with risk factors.

On 26 June 2026, the Commission opened a formal investigation and - in parallel - adopted a Preliminary Assessment summarising the main facts of the case and identifying its preliminary competition concerns.

The Commission found that Sanofi may be dominant in the market for enhanced flu vaccines in Germany and France. Also, the Commission has indications that since 2024 Sanofi may have pursued a misleading communication campaign aimed at health-care professionals (HCPs). By doing so, Sanofi may have restricted competition on the market for enhanced flu vaccines in Germany and France, in breach of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. In the EU, Sanofi's vaccine is marketed under the brand name ‘Efluelda' and competes with another enhanced flu vaccine marketed by the company CSL Seqirus under the brand name ‘Fluad'.

To address the Commission's preliminary concerns, Sanofi has offered commitments relating to proactive communication, namely the publication of a statement on its German website acknowledging the ECDC's and German NITAG's assessment, the publication of a statement on its French website clarifying that the French NITAG's current recommendation treats Fluad and Efluelda as equivalent, and the inclusion of a prominent citation of the current German NITAG recommendation in German marketing and promotional material for enhanced flu vaccines.

In addition, Sanofi offered further commitments in its communications with HCPs about enhanced flu vaccines in both Germany and France.

The Commission invites all interested parties to submit their views on Sanofi's proposed commitments no later than 21 August 2026.

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Siobhan McGarry– Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83)

 

Commissioner Kos in North Macedonia to advance EU reforms

Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is in Skopje, North Macedonia, today to discuss the country's EU accession path and reform efforts, with a focus on implementing the Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. To date, North Macedonia has received €142.1 million under the Reform and Growth Facility following progress in delivering key reforms.

During her visit, Commissioner Kos will meet Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali. Their discussions will focus on progress in implementing the Reform Agenda, priorities for gradual integration into the EU, and broader developments linked to the country's EU path. A joint press conference will follow at 13:10 CEST and will be transmitted live at EBS.

Commissioner Kos will also meet the President of the Assembly Afrim Gashi to discuss the importance of constructive political dialogue and broad cross-party support for EU-related reforms.

Commissioner Kos will visit a student dormitory in Skopje, refurbished through EU funding. She will also meet youth organisations from North Macedonia to discuss the opportunities that closer integration with the EU offers young people, including through programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. Later in the day, she will meet representatives of civil society organisations and the media to discuss the implementation of key EU-related reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law.

(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 296 27 16)

 

 

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

 

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases

 

Calendar items of the President and Commissioners

 

Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners